2013 BEST AND WORST BEAUTY PRODUCTS

As today is the last day of 2013, I wanna tell you what I think are the best and worst beauty products of the past year. Many categories will be absent because 1) I rarely use these kinds of products (e.g. eyeshadow and eyeliner) or 2) I haven't found anything good enough to put on the list (e.g. moisturizing cream and shower gel). Since my skin has been both oily and dry in 2013, some categories will contain products for these two skin types. Most of the items have been reviewed on this blog, so if you want to read my detailed reviews, just click on their names. Some haven't been mentioned before, but I'll work on their reviews as soon as possible. Without further ado, let's see what's on my list this year.

BEST OF BEAUTY

SKINCARE

1. Best makeup remover:
- For eyes: Biore Cleansing Oil - In Cotton Wipes (review coming soon)
- For face and lips: Bifesta Cleansing Gel

2. Best cleanser:
- For dry skin: Etude House Baking Powder Bubble Cleansing Moist
- For oily skin: Shiseido Perfect Whip foam 

3. Best lotion/toner:
- For dry skin: Hada Labo SHA Hydrating Lotion
- For oily skin: It's Skin Supersize Peeling Softner (review coming soon)

4. Best eye cream: 
- Skinfood Salmon Brightening Eye Cream

5. Best serum:
- It's Skin Power 10 Formula VE Effector with Vitamin E Derivatives

6. Best acne treatment:
- It's Skin Prestige Creme D'escargot

7. Best lip balm:
- Nivea Essential Care (review coming soon)

8. Best mask:
- For hydrating and brightening: Mandom Beauty Barrier Repair Mask HA
- For deep-cleansing/exfoliating: The Body Shop Seaweed Ionic Clay Mask

9. Best sunscreen/sunblock:
- For face: It's Skin 2PM Sunblock SPF50+ PA+++ (review coming soon)

- For body: Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence Water Base SPF50+ PA+++ (review coming soon) (This product isn't in the photo because I've used it up and haven't repurchased yet)

MAKEUP

1. Best makeup base:

- It's Skin 2PM Sunblock SPF50+ PA+++ (yup, this sunblock is an AMAZING makeup base!) (review coming soon)

2. Best BB cream:

- For dry skin: It's Skin Prestige Creme D'escargot BB

- For oily skin: Skin79 VIP Gold Collection Super+ Beblesh Balm

3. Best compact powder:

- For dry skin: Tonymoly Cats Wink Clear Pact (review coming soon)

- For oily skin: Skin79 Sun Protect Beblesh Pact SPF30 PA++ 

4. Best blusher:

- KATE Cheek Color S in PK-1

5. Best eyebrow powder:

- KATE Designing Eyebrow N in EX-5 (review coming soon)

6. Best lipstick:

- Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in 040 Rendezvous

7. Best mascara:

- Kose Esprique Full Impression Waterproof Mascara (This product isn't in the photo because I've used it up and haven't repurchased yet) (I briefly mentioned this in my Fairydrops Volume Burst Mascara  Waterproof review)

BEAUTY ACCESSORIES

1. Best eyelash curler:

- Shiseido Eyelash Curler: This baby curls my lashes like a dream without pinching my eyelids. It also lasts forever. I've been using it for 3 years and it's still going strong :)

2. Best powder brush:

- The Body Shop Retractable Blusher Brush: I use this one to apply my face powder. It's soft and gentle on my skin. It also doesn't shed. I love that it's compact and retractable because I can toss it into my bag and bring it with me easily.

3. Best eyebrow shaver:

- Etude House Eyebrow Razor: I think this one has been discontinued, but it will probably last forever. It feels gentle on my skin and shaves my eyebrows well. The design and color are cute too.

BODY CARE

1. Best body scrub:

- It's Skin Fairy Jasmine Body Scrub (review coming soon)

- The Body Shop Bath Gloves (review coming soon)

2. Best hand gel:

- The Body Shop Absinthe Purifying Hand Gel (review coming soon)

3. Best hand cream:

- It's Skin Mini Bebe Hand Cream (review coming soon)

4. Best deodorant:

- Nivea Anti-perspirant Whitening Deodorant

HAIRCARE

1. Best shampoo:

- Essential Damage-care Rich Premiere Shampoo (review coming soon)

2. Hair serum:

- The Body Shop Grapeseed Glossing Serum 

BEST PACKAGING

- Jill Stuart Fruit Lip Balm N 001

             BEST SCENTED-PRODUCT

- Skin79 Lemon Brightening Mask

WORST OF BEAUTY

SKINCARE

1. Worst cleanser:

- Tonymoly Clean Dew Tea Tree Seed Foam Cleanser

2. Worst cream:

- The Face Shop Arsainte Eco-therapy Crystal Water Super Gel (review coming soon)

3. Worst sunscreen:
- Banana Boat Natural Reflect Lotion Sunscreen SPF50+ (review coming soon)

4. Worst lip balm:
- The Body Shop Cocoa Butter Lipcare Stick (review coming soon)

MAKEUP

1. Worst BB cream:

- Laneige Snow BB Soothing Cushion SPF50+ PA+++

2. Worst mascara:

- Bourjois Volume Glamour Ultra Care (I mentioned this in my Fairydrops Volume Burst Mascara Waterproof review)

BEAUTY ACCESSORIES

1. Worst facial brush:

- Tonymoly Pore Cleansing Brush

2. Worst powder brush:

- It's Skin Powder Brush: This brush sheds CONSTANTLY. The hair feels harsh on my face and falls off when I wash or use it. Whenever I apply powder with this, it leaves strands of hair all over my face.  

HAIRCARE

- Worst shampoo: The Body Shop Rainforest Shine Shampoo (review coming soon)

That's the end of my ranking list. Thank you so much for reading my blog in the past 2 months. I hope to continue receiving your support in the year to come. Happy new year!

REVIEW: THE BODY SHOP SEAWEED IONIC CLAY MASK SACHET REVIEW

After the less-than-stellar performances of The Body Shop Vitamin C Microdermabrasion Sachet and Vitamin E Sink-in Moisture Mask Sachet, I honestly didn't have much expectation for the Seaweed Ionic Clay Mask Sachet. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the effectiveness of this mask.

(Click on images to see description, instruction and ingredients)

My opinion: This mask looks like brown mud and it dries pretty quickly (within 1 minute after application). It has a very faint seaweed scent which doesn't bother me. The instruction says to leave it on for 10 minutes but I let it sit on my face for 20 minutes and didn't experience any irritation whatsoever. After washing it off, my skin looks clearer and my acnes are significantly reduced! It also loosens up my blackheads so that when I use a toner afterwards, I can see little black dots on the cotton pad! It helps unclog my pores as well, though it takes 2 uses to get rid of them. It enables my skincare products to absorb faster and better, possibly because it takes away my dead skin cells. Whenever I use this, I'll wake up the next morning with smooth, healthy and glowing skin. It definitely lives up to its claims, which are drawing out impurities, clarifying and refreshing. And it does all these things without drying my skin out! This is my holy grail deep cleansing/exfoliating mask! I highly recommend you try this one out as it's cheap and one sachet can last for 2 uses. The only con is that it dries out really fast. I stored the product in a little pot and by the second time I used it, the mask had hardened a little bit and it was slightly difficult to apply on my face.

Pros:

- Get rid of blackheads, clogged pores and dead skin cells

- Deflate acnes and help them heal faster

- Non-drying and non-irritating

- Skin looks clearer and brighter

Cons:

- Dry up fast

Repurchase?: Yes, in fact I've already bought the full-size product!

REVIEW: IT'S SKIN SKIN HEALTHENING 5 CEREALS CLEANSING FOAM

As much as I love It's Skin Power 10 line, I seriously dislike their cleansers because they are either too gentle or too drying. It's Skin Skin Healthening 5 Cereals Cleansing Foam belongs to the latter category. 

Description: This soft feathery cleansing foam deeply cleanses impurities and make-up deep inside the skin pores leaving fresh and radiant look. It contains high-quality five cereals extract to strengthen weakened skin for hydrated and vital look.

Size: 180ml

Price: 335,000 VND (about US$16)

My opinion: First of all, the smell is too overpowering for my liking. I rarely have problems with scents but I absolutely hate it. This cleansing foam contains actual sesame (?) seeds in it, but you won't feel them on your skin at all.

And please DON'T use that much. A pea-sized amount is more than enough for the whole face.

At first, I combined this with Tonymoly Pore Cleansing Brush and the combo dried out my skin like nobody's business within 1 month. After that, I used the cleanser alone and it literally made my skin PEEL! It was so drying and gave me that squeaky-clean feeling which I absolutely hate. Ironically, this is supposed to make the skin become healthier and more hydrated, but as time passes, it actually WEAKENS and DEHYDRATES my skin! It's less drying than Tonymoly Clean Dew Tea Tree Seed Foam Cleanser, but still too much for me to handle. I have combination skin with an oily T-zone and normal/easily dehydrated cheeks, and I can't stand this product, so those with dry skin may want to think twice before buying this. Another con is that it's so hard to squeeze the product out, so after 3 months, the tube looks like this even though there's still loads of product left:

I've stopped using this product completely and passed it on to my dad. He's not the type to pamper himself with skincare products, but recently, his skin gets so oily after cycling, to the point that washing his face with water and a flannel isn't enough, so I give him this cleanser. He neither likes or hates it, but says that it cleanses his skin well without drying his skin out (and he doesn't use any moisturizers, mind you). So I guess this product may be suitable with people with super oily skin. A tube can last for up to 6 months, so it's good value for money.

Pros:

- Cleanse the skin well

- Last for a long time

Cons: 

- Overpowering scent

- Dry my skin out

Repurchase?: Hell no!

QUICK REVIEW: BATH & BODY WORKS POCKETBAC ANTI-BACTERIAL HAND GEL IN VANILLA SNOW FLAKE, CRISP GOLDEN PEAR, STRAWBERRY SMOOCHES, AND PEAR BERRY CUDDLES

Today I'm gonna do a quick review on 4 kinds of Bath & Body Works PocketBac Anti-bacterial Hand Gel: Vanilla Snow Flake, Crisp Golden Pear, Strawberry Smooches, and Pear Berry Cuddles.

Price: US$1.75 per bottle

Size: 29ml

Packaging: I just LOVE the cute packagings, especially those of Strawberry Smooches and Pear Berry Cuddles! They are also travel-friendly due to their compact size.

Scent: All these hand gels smell exactly like their names, so I will not go into details here. The scents are all really nice and long-lasting. My favorite is Vanilla Snow Flake, which reminds me of Yves Rocher Organic Vanilla Shower Gel.  

Cleansing power: These hand gels clean my hands really well without drying them out. They evaporate quickly and don't leave any sticky feeling on my hands.

Purchase?: Yes, since they're cheap, cute and effective :)

QUICK REVIEW: RIMMEL LASTING FINISH BY KATE LIPSTICK IN 109

I have the nicest colleagues in the world ^o^ Today one of them was kind enough to let me try her Rimmel Lasting Finish Matte Lipstick by Kate Moss in 109, so here's a new quick review for you guys :)

I love the packaging, especially the crown pattern on the lid :)

It's a coral shade which reminds me of the now-discontinued MAC Viva Glam Cyndi, but the Rimmel one is brighter and more beautiful. This is how it looks like on my lips:

This lipstick has a matte finish which enables it to last for a long time. I drink water frequently but it stays on even after 3 hours:

For me, this lipstick is non-drying but if you have dry lips, I highly recommend that you apply a lip balm beforehand.

Pros:
- Pretty color
- Affordable
- Long-lasting

Cons:
- Maybe a little bit drying for people with chapped lips

Purchase?: Yes, I really like this lipstick :)

REVIEW: TONYMOLY CATCHU WINK TONY TINT IN #1

In my opinion, burgundy has to be the hottest lip color this winter. Lots of brands release advertising campaigns for this particular shade, for example:

Innisfree Color Glow lipstick with Yoona (SNSD) as the endorser

Etude House Rosy Tint Lips featuring Sulli f(x) 

and Nature Republic Provence Longlasting Lipstick with Taeyeon (SNSD) as the model >.<

I received a tiny sample bottle of Tonymoly CatChu Wink Tony Tint in #1 ages ago. I tried it once and didn't like it because I thought it was too dark for me. However, I rediscovered it while rummaging through my lipstick/lip tint collection and decided to retried it. And you know what, it's actually a burgundy lip tint! I'm so happy because it means I won't have to shell out for a burgundy lip color anytime soon ^o^

I just adore the packaging of this sample! It's super cute and travel-friendly >.<

This is how it looks like on my lips (and please pardon my bare face, these photos were taken during that time of the month T-T):

The color is very pretty, wearable and long-lasting. I drink water frequently but this lip tint stays on really well and only comes off when I remove it with my beloved Bifesta Cleansing Gel. However, like other red lip tints that I've tried, this tends to fade unevenly, settle in the center of my lips and make my lips slightly dehydrated after 3 hours. When these things happen, I'll top it off with a clear lip gloss and that seems to solve the problems. If you have dry lips, you should apply a lip balm before putting on this lip tint. I personally think that this lip tint will be perfect for a Christmas night out.

Pros:

- Pretty color

- Long-lasting 

- Cute packaging

Cons:

- Fade unevenly and tend to settle in the center of my lips

- May be a little bit dehydrated or even drying for some people

Purchase?: No, because of the same old reason I've mentioned in every lipstick/lip tint post: I get bored of a color very quickly :)

Well, that's all for today's post. Merry Christmas everyone ^^ May you all have a lovely holiday with your family and friends :)

REVIEW: TONYMOLY INTENSE CARE DUAL EFFECT SLEEPING PACK

I received a sample of Tonymoly Intense Care Dual Effect Sleeping Pack several months ago, but I hesitated to use it because some people complained that it broke them out. As I rarely get acnes in winter (except for those hormonal ones) and I've found a great mask to treat acnes, I decided to try my luck and use it yesterday.

This is the first time I've ever tried a sleeping mask and I have to say, I'm quite impressed with it! It's in a form of a thick gel, but it sinks in right away and feels smooth to the touch. I even apply it around my eyes and this mask doesn't irritate them at all. It has a faint floral scent, which is hardly noticeable. Although it's very moisturizing, it doesn't make my face become oilier. My skin looks moisturized, bright and healthy, and the effects still last even after washing my face. I apply this right after my toner because I have an oily T-zone and hate layering lots of products on my face. But if your skin is dry, you can totally apply a serum and/or moisturizer first and follow up with this. And remember to use this once or twice a week only. Overall, I really like Tonymoly Intense Care Dual Effect Sleeping Pack because of its moisturizing and brightening property. It also doesn't clog my pores or break me out. However, I wouldn't use this in summer as it might be too heavy for me by then.

Pros:

- Moisturizing and brightening

- Non-irritating

Cons:

- None that I can think of, apart from the fact that it may be too heavy for oily skin in summer, but that's just my assumption.

Purchase?: No. As much as I like it, I don't want to shell out for a product that I'll only use once or twice a week in the winter.